The Library & Archives at the San Diego Air & Space Museum is a leading resource for researchers worldwide. We answer thousands of inquiries annually, utilizing material in our extensive archival collection. On occasion, we are solicited to help identify aircraft wreckages using manufacturing data in our Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation (Convair) archival collection.

Last year we had an inquiry from a group to identify the remains of a B-24D built in San Diego and crashed in New Guinea. Our researcher included three photos of deteriorated airplane sections clearly stamped “2143”. We were able to determine that “2143” was the CVAC sequence number (Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp.) It was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-130-CO Liberator 42-41066 and assigned to the 5th Air Force, 43rd Bombardment Group, 403rd Bombardment Squadron.

On October 2, 1943, the aircraft took off from 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby on a weather reconnaissance mission over Wewak; its last reported position by radio was approximately Lat 7° 42’ S Long 142° 30’ E over Gulf Province. After being reported missing, an aerial search flew over the southern coast of New Guinea, over the route this B-24 was to have flown, but no sightings were made.

On October 3, 1944, the entire crew was officially declared dead and all were memorialized on the tablets of the missing at the Manila American Cemetery.

Those who perished were:

Pilot 1st Lt. Paul S. Lamos, Jr.,
O-663527 (MIA / KIA) IL

Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Kenneth G. Bennett,
O-743164 (MIA / KIA) CA

Navigator 2nd Lt. Stanley J. Bucki,
O-804929 (MIA / KIA) PA

Observer 1st Lt. Clarence J. Fisher,
O-664752 (MIA / KIA) TX

Engineer F/O Gilbert H. Grey,
T-190829 345th BG, 498th BS (MIA / KIA) CA

Asst Engineer TSgt Lester E. McMinis,
34307188 (MIA / KIA) NC

Asst Engineer SSgt George H. Lewis,
17046360 (MIA / KIA) MO

Radio TSgt Charles J. Zipay,
13100382 (MIA / KIA) PA

Asst Radio SSgt Steven J. Chernek, Jr.,
36126118 (MIA / KIA) MI

Gunner SSgt Jack Lattman,
32429542 (MIA / KIA) NY

Gunner SSgt Hammond A. Rhodes,
34425668 (MIA / KIA) MS

Our researcher reported these findings to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which was investigating the crash site. It is gratifying to help solve these mysteries and bring closure to families.

Source: San Diego Air & Space Museum Library & Archives newsletter. To learn more, visit: https://sandiegoairandspace.org/pdf/lanewsletter_spring23.pdf